Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Utility Patent
1999-01-06
2001-01-02
Hurley, Kevin (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
Utility Patent
active
06168185
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an airbag module for vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The arrangement of an airbag module in a vehicle usually requires the use of several individual components. Thus, for instance, the gas generator is arranged in the housing of an airbag module by using individual components, generally in form of a flanged joint. Additional parts are required for arranging the housing in the vehicle and also for arranging the airbag and other parts.
It is the object of the invention to provide an airbag module for arrangement in a vehicle, in particular in a vehicle seat, whereby its manufacturing is less expensive and the number of components, the weight and the time for assembly can be reduced at the same time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the basic gist of the invention to provide a support having several functions by serving as part of the housing for accommodating the gas generator and for arranging the airbag and the cover enclosing said airbag, and which is finally also suited for being mounted in the vehicle. Thus, it is possible to considerably reduce the number of components of the airbag module and to thereby reduce the manufacturing costs. Another advantage is the reduction of weight and a significant saving of time for the assembly. The support being an integral unit is provided with components for fastening the complete airbag module to the vehicle and with components for accommodating the gas generator. Moreover, the support includes components for installing the airbag and the cover enclosing the gas generator and the airbag. The support is advantageously made of light metal such as aluminum, magnesium or synthetic material and can be cast, deep drawn or manufactured in any other usual manner as an integral component.
The components for fastening the airbag module to the vehicle can thereby consist of ends protruding or overhanging from the support, wherein the ends serve as mounting flanges and have passageways to accommodate fastening means, for example, in form of a screw. The support as such can thereby by provided with components used to mount the complete airbag module in the vehicle. An easy way of mounting the airbag module is provided by the passageways allowing the passage of fasteners for fastening the airbag module to the vehicle. In dependence on the required special situation and mounting sites the ends serving as mounting flanges can be designed individually.
The component for accommodating the gas generator can be a clamping flange for receiving the gas generator on one hand, and a holding flange on the other hand, which again is provided with components for passing through a mounting bolt disposed at the gas generator or a second clamping flange, respectively. By providing a clamping flange and a holding flange the gas generator can be fastened to the support at two points so as to provide a secure positioning. In case the gas generator is provided with a mounting bolt the passageway can be a hole through which the mounting bolt extends, or a groove being open towards the top, into which the mounting bolt can be pushed. For securing the facility a screw nut can be screwed on, or, if the mounting bolt has no screw thread, at least a securing ring can be applied.
It is useful to provide the end of the gas generator nearest the holding flange, which end comprises the mounting bolt, wherein the clamping flange encloses the section of the other end of the gas generator. The enclosure of the gas generator by the clamping flange is obtained by the clamping flange having a recess into which the gas generator can be pushed or inserted.
The clamping flange is advantageously provided with elastic fingers adjacent to the circumference of the gas generator. Possible manufacturing tolerances can be compensated by the elastic fingers, and they particularly guarantee a secure contact between the gas generator and the clamping flange and thus the complete support without producing clattering noises.
The holding flange can expediently extend towards the gas generator for partially enclosing said gas generator in the area of its end, in which the gas outlet openings of the gas generator are disposed, in a contact-free manner. The gas outlet openings are enclosed by the so formed holding flange in a U-shaped manner, wherein the area towards the direction deployment of the airbag is omitted. If the gas outlet openings of the gas generator are not provided in the area of one end of the gas generator, but rather in the center of the gas generator, the correspondingly designed holding flange must then be designed correspondingly far in the longitudinal direction of the gas generator so as to enclose in this case still part of the gas outlet openings. Such a configuration of the holding flange serves to direct the flow of gas emerging from the gas generator and can insofar also be called a diverting element. Such an embodiment particularly prevents the airbag from contacting very hot gas in the area of the outlet openings, which protects the airbag from damage. To enclose or divert the flow of gas in the direction of deployment of the airbag is not necessary, since in this area the airbag immediately moves away from the gas outlet openings whereas it is almost directly adjacent the gas outlet openings in the other areas after its deployment.
In the support area, where the gas generator and the support are placed opposite each other, elastic members can be provided for producing a retention force which has an effect on the gas generator perpendicular to the axis thereof after the gas generator is installed in the flanges for securing its position. The elastic members are thereby also components of the support, wherein the elastic members extend away from the support towards the gas generator. After installing the gas generator the elastic members are pressed down so as to produce the mentioned additional retention force. The arrangement of the elastic members can be omitted if clamping flanges are provided, which have elastic fingers provided adjacent the circumference of the gas generator. If such elastic fingers are, however, not provided at the clamping flanges, the elastic members disposed at the support will advantageously be used for guaranteeing the desired secured positioning and for avoiding especially also clattering noises.
For additional securing the positioning and for avoiding clattering noises between the gas generator and the support, an elastic overhang can be provided at the support in the clamping flange area, into which overhang one edge of the gas generator can be clipped or inserted, for additionally securing the positioning in the case of high forces in axial direction of the gas generator. The flange arranged at the opposite end of the elastic overhang then no longer needs to hold the forces effective towards the elastic overhang alone and is thereby relieved.
Especially for saving material and weight the support encloses merely part of the circumference of the gas generator and is spaced from the gas generator with the exception of the area of the flanges or elastic fingers, respectively, for largely avoiding an unnecessary, possibly noise creating contact between the gas generator and the support. It is particularly feasible to design the support in a very slim manner because the support may be soft enough for bending purposes in the longitudinal axis direction of the gas generator. By arranging the gas generator at the support the eventually desired rigidity of the total airbag module is obtained, which is required especially when the airbag is deployed. In other words, with a load vertical to the longitudinal axis of the gas generator, the entire airbag module is supported by the gas generator that due to its configuration has a sufficiently high rigidity.
In the installed state the support is expediently provided in the vehicle so that the area of the gas generator not being enclosed by the support is directed towards the direction of deployment of the airbag.
The facilities for arranging the
Breed Automotive Technology Inc.
Drayer L. R.
Hurley Kevin
McKinley Kevin
LandOfFree
Airbag module does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Airbag module, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Airbag module will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2454204